The ignorant, deluded by the qualities of nature, cling to actions born of those qualities. The wise should not unsettle those who do not yet understand fully.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.29
Hindi · हिन्दी
प्रकृतिजन्य गुणोंसे अत्यन्त मोहित हुए अज्ञानी मनुष्य गुणों और कर्मोंमें आसक्त रहते हैं । उन पूर्णतया न समझनेवाले मन्दबुद्धि अज्ञानियोंको पूर्णतया जाननेवाला ज्ञानी मनुष्य विचलित न करे ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
प्रकृतेःof natureगुणसम्मूढाःdeluded by the qualitiesसज्जन्तेthey clingगुणकर्मसुto actions of the qualitiesतान्thoseअकृत्स्नविदःthose who do not know fullyमन्दान्the dull-mindedकृत्स्नवित्the one who knows fullyनnotविचालयेत्should unsettle
Read literallyof nature · deluded by the qualities · they cling · to actions of the qualities · those · those who do not know fully · the dull-minded · the one who knows fully · not · should unsettle
Understanding the verse
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It teaches restraint in teaching: see confusion clearly, but do not weaponize your clarity.
People lost in the forces of nature become attached to action and its results. A person who understands more deeply should not shake them up unnecessarily.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen between duty and grief. Krishna explains that most people are driven by nature’s forces and cling to action blindly. The truly wise should not disturb them harshly, but lead them gently toward clarity.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You finally understand a hard truth, but the person beside you is still reacting from fear. Pushing too fast can break trust before understanding has a chance to grow.
The takeaway
“Wisdom does not need to humiliate confusion; it can guide without force.”
People lost in the forces of nature become attached to action and its results. A person who understands more deeply should not shake them up unnecessarily.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.29?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.29?
Verse 29 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.29 matter today?
You finally understand a hard truth, but the person beside you is still reacting from fear. Pushing too fast can break trust before understanding has a chance to grow.
It teaches restraint in teaching: see confusion clearly, but do not weaponize your clarity.
What this verse means
People lost in the forces of nature become attached to action and its results. A person who understands more deeply should not shake them up unnecessarily.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen between duty and grief. Krishna explains that most people are driven by nature’s forces and cling to action blindly. The truly wise should not disturb them harshly, but lead them gently toward clarity.
Why this verse still matters
You finally understand a hard truth, but the person beside you is still reacting from fear. Pushing too fast can break trust before understanding has a chance to grow.
“Wisdom does not need to humiliate confusion; it can guide without force.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), gunas (47 verses), delusion (19 verses)